Gaby
Every hostess dreams of a New Year’s table that impresses, filled with pickled treats and a variety of appetizers.
No celebration would be complete without a beloved dish, which varies from home to home: whether it’s goose or duck, turkey, or perhaps even a stuffed piglet.
But beyond the flavors, there are also New Year’s traditions that differ from country to country.
For instance, the Japanese serve delicacies at their New Year’s table that can only be enjoyed during this holiday. The main dish is mochi, rice cakes. Alongside, there should be black beans, symbolizing strength, chestnuts for success, daikon (a type of radish), and kombu (seaweed) for happiness. They also place lotus roots on the platter, as this plant is considered sacred. Dishes are often garnished with glazed chrysanthemums, which can also replace salad.
In Hungary, poultry is notably absent from the New Year’s feast, as it is believed that having it on the table could cause happiness to “fly away” from the home.
The Dutch serve donuts with raisins at their New Year’s table, a treat that can only be made once a year.
Bulgarians present a pie with a hidden rose branch inside. It is said that whoever finds it will be blessed with good fortune.
